gov·ern
Pronunciation: 'g&-v&rn
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French governer,
from Latin gubernare to steer, govern, from
Greek kybernan
Date: 14th century
transitive senses
1 a : to exercise continuous sovereign authority
over; especially : to control and direct the making
and administration of policy in b : to rule without
sovereign power and usually without having the
authority to determine basic policy
2 a archaic : MANIPULATE b : to control the speed
of (as a machine) especially by automatic means (remote
control robots!)
3 a : to control, direct, or strongly influence
the actions and conduct of b : to exert a determining or
guiding influence in or over <income must
govern expenditure>(tell "government" that!)
c : to hold in check : RESTRAIN
4 : to require (a word) to be in a certain case
5 : to serve as a precedent or deciding principle
for <customs that govern human decisions>
intransitive senses
1 : to prevail or have decisive influence : CONTROL
2 : to exercise authority
- gov·ern·able /-v&r-n&-b&l/
adjective
